English
Thebeginningoftheseperplexingthingswasinthesummer;andeachtimeOnawouldpromisehimwithterrorinhervoicethatitwouldnothappenagain—butinvain.
EachcrisiswouldleaveJurgismoreandmorefrightened,moredisposedtodistrustElzbieta’sconsolations,andtobelievethattherewassometerriblethingaboutallthisthathewasnotallowedtoknow.
OnceortwiceintheseoutbreakshecaughtOna’seye,anditseemedtohimliketheeyeofahuntedanimal;therewerebrokenphrasesofanguishanddespairnowandthen,amidherfranticweeping.
ItwasonlybecausehewassonumbandbeatenhimselfthatJurgisdidnotworrymoreaboutthis.
Butheneverthoughtofit,exceptwhenhewasdraggedtoit—helivedlikeadumbbeastofburden,knowingonlythemomentinwhichhewas.
Thewinterwascomingonagain,moremenacingandcruelthanever.
ItwasOctober,andtheholidayrushhadbegun.
ItwasnecessaryforthepackingmachinestogrindtilllateatnighttoprovidefoodthatwouldbeeatenatChristmasbreakfasts;andMarijaandElzbietaandOna,aspartofthemachine,beganworkingfifteenorsixteenhoursaday.
Therewasnochoiceaboutthis—whateverworktherewastobedonetheyhadtodo,iftheywishedtokeeptheirplaces;besidesthat,itaddedanotherpittancetotheirincomes.
Sotheystaggeredonwiththeawfulload.
Theywouldstartworkeverymorningatseven,andeattheirdinnersatnoon,andthenworkuntiltenorelevenatnightwithoutanothermouthfuloffood.
Jurgiswantedtowaitforthem,tohelpthemhomeatnight,buttheywouldnotthinkofthis;thefertilizermillwasnotrunningovertime,andtherewasnoplaceforhimtowaitsaveinasaloon.
Eachwouldstaggeroutintothedarkness,andmakeherwaytothecorner,wheretheymet;oriftheothershadalreadygone,wouldgetintoacar,andbeginapainfulstruggletokeepawake.
Whentheygothometheywerealwaystootiredeithertoeatortoundress;theywouldcrawlintobedwiththeirshoeson,andlielikelogs.
Iftheyshouldfail,theywouldcertainlybelost;iftheyheldout,theymighthaveenoughcoalforthewinter.
AdayortwobeforeThanksgivingDaytherecameasnowstorm.
Itbeganintheafternoon,andbyeveningtwoincheshadfallen.
Jurgistriedtowaitforthewomen,butwentintoasaloontogetwarm,andtooktwodrinks,andcameoutandranhometoescapefromthedemon;therehelaydowntowaitforthem,andinstantlyfellasleep.
Whenheopenedhiseyesagainhewasinthemidstofanightmare,andfoundElzbietashakinghimandcryingout.
Atfirsthecouldnotrealizewhatshewassaying—Onahadnotcomehome.Whattimewasit,heasked.Itwasmorning—timetobeup.Onahadnotbeenhomethatnight!
Anditwasbittercold,andafootofsnowontheground.
Jurgissatupwithastart.Marijawascryingwithfrightandthechildrenwerewailinginsympathy—littleStanislovasinaddition,becausetheterrorofthesnowwasuponhim.
Jurgishadnothingtoputonbuthisshoesandhiscoat,andinhalfaminutehewasoutofthedoor.
Then,however,herealizedthattherewasnoneedofhaste,thathehadnoideawheretogo.
Itwasstilldarkasmidnight,andthethicksnowflakesweresiftingdown—everythingwassosilentthathecouldheartherustleofthemastheyfell.
Inthefewsecondsthathestoodtherehesitatinghewascoveredwhite.
Hesetoffatarunfortheyards,stoppingbythewaytoinquireinthesaloonsthatwereopen.
Onamighthavebeenovercomeontheway;orelseshemighthavemetwithanaccidentinthemachines.
Whenhegottotheplacewheresheworkedheinquiredofoneofthewatchmen—therehadnotbeenanyaccident,sofarasthemanhadheard.
Atthetimeoffice,whichhefoundalreadyopen,theclerktoldhimthatOna’scheckhadbeenturnedinthenightbefore,showingthatshehadleftherwork.
Afterthattherewasnothingforhimtodobutwait,pacingbackandforthinthesnow,meantime,tokeepfromfreezing.
Alreadytheyardswerefullofactivity;cattlewerebeingunloadedfromthecarsinthedistance,andacrossthewaythe“beef-luggers”weretoilinginthedarkness,carryingtwo-hundred-poundquartersofbullocksintotherefrigeratorcars.
Beforethefirststreaksofdaylighttherecamethecrowdingthrongsofworkingmen,shivering,andswingingtheirdinnerpailsastheyhurriedby.
Jurgistookuphisstandbythetime-officewindow,wherealonetherewaslightenoughforhimtosee;thesnowfellsoquickthatitwasonlybypeeringcloselythathecouldmakesurethatOnadidnotpasshim.
Seveno’clockcame,thehourwhenthegreatpackingmachinebegantomove.
Jurgisoughttohavebeenathisplaceinthefertilizermill;butinsteadhewaswaiting,inanagonyoffear,forOna.
Itwasfifteenminutesafterthehourwhenhesawaformemergefromthesnowmist,andsprangtowarditwithacry.
Itwasshe,runningswiftly;asshesawhim,shestaggeredforward,andhalffellintohisoutstretchedarms.
“Whathasbeenthematter?”hecried,anxiously.“Wherehaveyoubeen?”
Itwasseveralsccondsbeforeshecouldgetbreathtoanswerhim.“Icouldn’tgethome,”sheexclaimed.“Thesnow—thecarshadstopped.”
“Butwherewereyouthen?”hedemanded.
“Ihadtogohomewithafriend,”shepanted—”withJadvyga.”
Jurgisdrewadeepbreath;butthenhenoticedthatshewassobbingandtrembling—asifinoneofthosenervouscrisesthathedreadedso.“Butwhat’sthematter?”hecried.“Whathashappened?”
“Oh,Jurgis,Iwassofrightened!”shesaid,clingingtohimwildly.“Ihavebeensoworried!”
Theywerenearthetimestationwindow,andpeoplewerestaringatthem.Jurgisledheraway.“Howdoyoumean?”heasked,inperplexity.
“Iwasafraid—Iwasjustafraid!”sobbedOna.“Iknewyouwouldn’tknowwhereIwas,andIdidn’tknowwhatyoumightdo.Itriedtogethome,butIwassotired.Oh,Jurgis,Jurgis!”
Hewassogladtogetherbackthathecouldnotthinkclearlyaboutanythingelse.
Itdidnotseemstrangetohimthatsheshouldbesoverymuchupset;allherfrightandincoherentprotestationsdidnotmattersincehehadherback.
Helethercryawayhertears;andthen,hecauseitwasnearlyeighto’clock,andtheywouldloseanotherhouriftheydelayed,heleftheratthepackinghousedoor,withherghastlywhitefaceandherhauntedeyesofterror.
Therewasanotherbriefinterval.Christmaswasalmostcome;andbecausethesnowstillheld,andthesearchingcold,morningaftermorningJurgishallcarriedhiswifetoherpost,staggeringwithherthroughthedarkness;untilatlast,onenight,cametheend.
Itlackedbutthreedaysoftheholidays.
AboutmidnightMarijaandElzbietacamehome,exclaiminginalarmwhentheyfoundthatOnahadnotcome.
Thetwohadagreedtomeether;and,afterwaiting,hadgonetotheroomwheresheworked;onlytofindthattheham-wrappinggirlshadquitworkanhourbefore,andleft.
Therewasnosnowthatnight,norwasitespeciallycold;andstillOnahadnotcome!
Somethingmoreseriousmustbewrongthistime.
TheyarousedJurgis,andhesatupandlistenedcrosslytothestory.
ShemusthavegonehomeagainwithJadvyga,hesaid;Jadvygalivedonlytwoblocksfromtheyards,andperhapsshehadbeentired.
Nothingcouldhavehappenedtoher—andeveniftherehad,therewasnothingcouldbedoneaboutituntilmorning.
Jurgisturnedoverinhisbed,andwassnoringagainbeforethetwohadclosedthedoor.
Inthemorning,however,hewasupandoutnearlyanhourbeforetheusualtime.
JadvygaMarcinkuslivedontheothersideoftheyards,beyondHalstedStreet,withhermotherandsisters,inasinglebasementroom—forMikolashadrecentlylostonehandfrombloodpoisoning,andtheirmarriagehadbeenputoffforever.
Thedooroftheroomwasintherear,reachedbyanarrowcourt,andJurgissawalightinthewindowandheardsomethingfryingashepassed;heknocked,halfexpectingthatOnawouldanswer.
InsteadtherewasoneofJadvyga’slittlesisters,whogazedathimthroughacrackinthcdoor.“Where’sOna?”hedemanded;andthechildlookedathiminperplexity.“Ona?”shesaid.
“Yes,”saidJurgis.isn’tshehere?”
“No,”saidthechild,andJurgisgaveastart.
AmomentlatercameJadvyga,peeringoverthechild’shead.
Whenshesawwhoitwas,sheslidaroundoutofsight,forshewasnotquitedressed.
Jurgismustexcuseher,shebegan,hermotherwasveryill—
“Onaisn’there?”Jurgisdemanded,tooalarmedtowaitforhertofinish.
“Why,no,”saidJadvyga.“Whatmadeyouthinkshewouldbehere?Hadshesaidshewascoming?”
“No,”heanswered.“Butshehasn’tcomehome—andIthoughtshewouldbeherethesameasbefore.”
“Asbefore?”echoedJadvyga,inperplexity.
“Thetimeshespentthenighthere,”saidJurgis.
“Theremustbesomemistake,”sheanswered,quickly.“Onahasneverspentthenighthere.”
Hewasonlyhalfabletorealizethewords.“Why—why—”heexclaimed.“Twoweeksago.Jadvyga!Shetoldmesothenightitsnowed,andshecouldnotgethome.”
“Theremustbesomemistake,”declaredthegirl,again;“shedidn’tcomehere.”
Hesteadiedhimselfbythedoorsill;andJadvygainheranxiety—forshewasfondofOna—openedthedoorwide,holdingherjacketacrossherthroat.
“Areyousureyoudidn’tmisunderstandher?”shecried.“Shemusthavemeantsomewhereelse.She—”
“Shesaidhere,”insistedJurgis.“Shetoldmeallaboutyou,andhowyouwere,andwhatyousaid.Areyousure?Youhaven’tforgotten?Youweren’taway?”
“No,no!”sheexclaimed—andthencameapeevishvoice—”Jadvyga,youaregivingthebabyacold.Shutthedoor!”
Jurgisstoodforhalfaminutemore,stammeringhisperplexitythroughaneighthofaninchofcrack;andthen,astherewasreallynothingmoretobesaid,heexcusedhimselfandwentaway.
Hewalkedonhalfdazed,withoutknowingwherehewent.Onahaddeceivedhim!Shehadliedtohim!
Andwhatcoulditmean—wherehadshebeen?Wherewasshenow?
Hecouldhardlygraspthething—muchlesstrytosolveit;butahundredwildsurmisescametohim,asenseofimpendingcalamityoverwhelmedhim.
Becausetherewasnothingelsetodo,hewentbacktothetimeofficetowatchagain.
Hewaiteduntilnearlyanhourafterseven,andthenwenttotheroomwhereOnaworkedtomakeinquiriesofOna’s“forelady.”
The“forelady,”hefound,hadnotyetcome;allthelinesofcarsthatcamefromdowntownwerestalled—therehadbeenanaccidentinthepowerhouse,andnocarshadbeenrunningsincelastnight.
Meantime,however,theham-wrapperswereworkingaway,withsomeoneelseinchargeofthem.
ThegirlwhoansweredJurgiswasbusy,andasshetalkedshelookedtoseeifshewerebeingwatched.
Thenamancameup,wheelingatruck;heknewJurgisforOna’shusband,andwascuriousaboutthemystery.
“Maybethecarshadsomethingtodowithit,”hesuggested—”maybeshehadgonedown-town.”
“No,”saidJurgis.“sheneverwentdown-town.”
“Perhapsnot,”saidtheman.Jurgisthoughthesawhimexchangeaswiftglancewiththegirlashespoke,andhedemandedquickly.“Whatdoyouknowaboutit?”
Butthemanhadseenthatthebosswaswatchinghim;hestartedonagain,pushinghistruck.“Idon’tknowanythingaboutit,”hesaid,overhisshoulder.“HowshouldIknowwhereyourwifegoes?”
ThenJurgiswentoutagainandpacedupanddownbeforethebuilding.
Allthemorninghestayedthere,withnothoughtofhiswork.
Aboutnoonhewenttothepolicestationtomakeinquiries,andthencamebackagainforanotheranxiousvigil.
Finally,towardthemiddleofthealternoon,hesetoutforhomeoncemore.
HewaswalkingoutAshlandAvenue.Thestreetcarshadbegunrunningagain,andseveralpassedhim,packedtothestepswithpeople.
ThesightofthemsetJurgistothinkingagainoftheman’ssarcasticremark;andhalfinvoluntarilyhefoundhimselfwatchingthecars—withtheresultthathegaveasuddenstartledexclamation,andstoppedshortinhistracks.
Thenhebrokeintoarun.Forawholeblockhetoreafterthecar,onlyalittlewaysbehind.
Thatrustyblackhatwiththedroopingredflower,itmightnotbeOna’s,buttherewasverylittlelikelihoodofit.
Hewouldknowforcertainverysoon,forshewouldgetouttwoblocksahead.Hesloweddown,andletthecargoon.
Shegotout:andassoonasshewasoutofsightonthesidestreetJurgisbrokeintoarun.
Suspicionwasrifeinhimnow,andhewasnotashamedtoshadowher:hesawherturnthecornerneartheirhome,andthenheranagain,andsawherasshewentuptheporchstepsofthehouse.
Afterthatheturnedback,andforfiveminutespacedupanddown,hishandsclenchedtightlyandhislipsset,hismindinaturmoil.Thenhewenthomeandentered.
Asheopenedthedoor,hesawElzbieta,whohadalsobeenlookingforOna,andhadcomehomeagain.Shewasnowontiptoe,andhadafingeronherlips.Jurgiswaiteduntilshewasclosetohim.
“Don’tmakeanynoise,”shewhispered,hurriedly.
“What’sthematter’?”heasked.“Onaisasleep,”shepanted.“She’sbeenveryill.
I’mafraidhermind’sbeenwandering,Jurgis.
Shewaslostonthestreetallnight,andI’veonlyjustsucceededingettingherquiet.”
“Whendidshecomein?”heasked.
“Soonafteryouleftthismorning,”saidElzbieta.
“Andhasshebeenoutsince?”“No,ofcoursenot.She’ssoweak,Jurgis,she—”
Andhesethisteethhardtogether.“Youarelyingtome,”hesaid.
Elzbietastarted,andturnedpale.“Why!”shegasped.“Whatdoyoumean?”
ButJurgisdidnotanswer.Hepushedheraside,andstrodetothebedroomdoorandopenedit.
Onawassittingonthebed.Sheturnedastartledlookuponhimasheentered.HeclosedthedoorinElzbieta’sface,andwenttowardhiswife.“Wherehaveyoubeen?”hedemanded.
Shehadherhandsclaspedtightlyinherlap,andhesawthatherfacewasaswhiteaspaper,anddrawnwithpain.
Shegaspedonceortwiceasshetriedtoanswerhim,andthenbegan,speakinglow,andswiftly.
“Jurgis,I—IthinkIhavebeenoutofmymind.
Istartedtocomelastnight,andIcouldnotfindtheway.
Iwalked—Iwalkedallnight,Ithink,and—andIonlygothome—thismorning.”
“Youneededarest,”hesaid,inahardtone.“Whydidyougooutagain?”
Hewaslookingherfairlyintheface,andhecouldreadthesuddenfearandwilduncertaintythatleapedintohereyes.
“I—Ihadtogoto—tothestore,”shegasped,almostinawhisper,“Ihadtogo—”
“Youarelyingtome,”saidJurgis.Thenheclenchedhishandsandtookasteptowardher.“Whydoyoulietome?”hecried,fiercely.“Whatareyoudoingthatyouhavetolietome?”
“Jurgis!”sheexclaimed,startingupinfright.“Oh,Jurgis,howcanyou?”
“Youhaveliedtome,Isay!”hecried.
“YoutoldmeyouhadbeentoJadvyga’shousethatothernight,andyouhadn’t.
Youhadbeenwhereyouwerelastnight—somewheresdowntown,forIsawyougetoffthecar.Wherewereyou?”
Itwasasifhehadstruckaknifeintoher.Sheseemedtogoalltopieces.
Forhalfasecondshestood,reelingandswaying,staringathimwithhorrorinhereyes;then,withacryofanguish,shetotteredforward,stretchingoutherarmstohim.
Buthesteppedaside,deliberately,andletherfall.
Shecaughtherselfatthesideofthebed,andthensankdown,buryingherfaceinherhandsandburstingintofranticweeping.
Therecameoneofthosehystericalcrisesthathadsooftendismayedhim.
Onasobbedandwept,herfearandanguishbuildingthemselvesupintolongclimaxes.
Furiousgustsofemotionwouldcomesweepingoverher,shakingherasthetempestshakesthetreesuponthehills;allherframewouldquiverandthrobwiththem—itwasasifsomedreadfulthingroseupwithinherandtookpossessionofher,torturingher,tearingher.
ThisthinghadbeenwonttosetJurgisquitebesidehimself;butnowhestoodwithhislipssettightlyandhishandsclenched—shemightweeptillshekilledherself,butsheshouldnotmovehimthistime—notaninch,notaninch.
Becausethesoundsshemadesethisbloodtorunningcoldandhislipstoquiveringinspiteofhimself,hewasgladofthediversionwhenTetaElzbieta,palewithfright,openedthedoorandrushedin;yetheturneduponherwithanoath.“Goout!”hecried,“goout!”
Andthen,asshestoodhesitating,abouttospeak,heseizedherbythearm,andhalfflungherfromtheroom,slammingthedoorandbarringitwithatable.
ThenheturnedagainandfacedOna,crying—”Now,answerme!”
Yetshedidnothearhim—shewasstillinthegripofthefiend.
Jurgiscouldseeheroutstretchedhands,shakingandtwitching,roaminghereandthereoverthebedatwill,likelivingthings;hecouldseeconvulsiveshudderingsstartinherbodyandrunthroughherlimbs.
Shewassobbingandchoking—itwasasifthereweretoomanysoundsforonethroat,theycamechasingeachother,likewavesuponthesea.
Thenhervoicewouldbegintoriseintoscreams,louderandlouderuntilitbrokeinwild,horriblepealsoflaughter.
Jurgisboreituntilhecouldbearitnolonger,andthenhesprangather,seizingherbytheshouldersandshakingher,shoutingintoherear:“Stopit,Isay!Stopit!”
Shelookedupathim,outofheragony;thenshefellforwardathisfeet.
Shecaughttheminherhands,inspiteofhiseffortstostepaside,andwithherfaceuponthefloorlaywrithing.
ItmadeachokinginJurgis’throattohearher,andhecriedagain,moresavagelythanbefore:“Stopit,Isay!”
Thistimesheheededhim,andcaughtherbreathandlaysilent,saveforthegaspingsobsthatwrenchedallherframe.
Foralongminuteshelaythere,perfectlymotionless,untilacoldfearseizedherhusband,thinkingthatshewasdying.
Suddenly,however,heheardhervoice,faintly:“Jurgis!Jurgis!”
“Whatisit?”hesaid.
Hehadtobenddowntoher,shewassoweak.Shewaspleadingwithhim,inbrokenphrases,painfullyuttered:“Havefaithinme!Believeme!”
“Believewhat?”hecried.
“BelievethatI—thatIknowbest—thatIloveyou!Anddonotaskme—whatyoudid.Oh,Jurgis,please,please!Itisforthebest—itis—”
Hestartedtospeakagain,butsherushedonfrantically,headinghimoff.“Ifyouwillonlydoit!Ifyouwillonly—onlybelieveme!
Itwasn’tmyfault—Icouldn’thelpit—itwillbeallright—itisnothing—itisnoharm.Oh,Jurgis—please,please!”
Shehadholdofhim,andwastryingtoraiseherselftolookathim;hecouldfeelthepalsiedshakingofherhandsandtheheavingofthebosomshepressedagainsthim.
Shemanagedtocatchoneofhishandsandgrippeditconvulsively,drawingittoherface,andbathingitinhertears.“Oh,believeme,believeme!”
shewailedagain;andheshoutedinfury,“Iwillnot!”
Butstillsheclungtohim,wailingaloudinherdespair:“Oh,Jurgis,thinkwhatyouaredoing!Itwillruinus—itwillruinus!Oh,no,youmustnotdoit!No,don’t,don’tdoit.Youmustnotdoit!
Itwilldrivememad—itwillkillme—no,no,Jurgis,Iamcrazy—itisnothing.Youdonotreallyneedtoknow.
Wecanbehappy—wecanloveeachotherjustthesame.Oh,please,please,believeme!”
Herwordsfairlydrovehimwild.Hetorehishandsloose,andflungheroff.“Answerme,”hecried.“Goddamnit,Isay—answerme!”
Shesankdownuponthefloor,beginningtocryagain.
Itwaslikelisteningtothemoanofadamnedsoul,andJurgiscouldnotstandit.
Hesmotehisfistuponthetablebyhisside,andshoutedagainather,“Answerme!”
Shebegantoscreamaloud,hervoicelikethevoiceofsomewildbeast:“Ah!Ah!Ican’t!Ican’tdoit!”
“Whycan’tyoudoit?”heshouted.
“Idon’tknowhow!”
Hesprangandcaughtherbythearm,liftingherup,andglaringintoherface.“Tellmewhereyouwerelastnight!”hepanted.“Quick,outwithit!”
Thenshebegantowhisper,onewordatatime:“I—wasin—ahouse—downtown—”
“Whathouse?Whatdoyoumean?”
Shetriedtohidehereyesaway,butheheldher.“MissHenderson’shouse,”shegasped.Hedidnotunderstandatfirst.“MissHenderson’shouse,”heechoed.
Andthensuddenly,asinanexplosion,thehorribletruthburstoverhim,andhereeledandstaggeredbackwithascream.
Hecaughthimselfagainstthewall,andputhishandtohisforehead,staringabouthim,andwhispering,“Jesus!Jesus!”
Aninstantlaterheleapedather,asshelaygrovelingathisfeet.Heseizedherbythethroat.“Tellme!”hegasped,hoarsely.Quick!Whotookyoutothatplace?”
Shetriedtogetaway,makinghimfurious;hethoughtitwasfear,ofthepainofhisclutch—hedidnotunderstandthatitwastheagonyofhershame.Stillsheansweredhim,“Connor.”
“Connor,”hegasped.“WhoisConnor?”
“Theboss,”sheanswered.“Theman—”
Hetightenedhisgrip,inhisfrenzy,andonlywhenhesawhereyesclosingdidherealizethathewaschokingher.
Thenherelaxedhisfingers,andcrouched,waiting,untilsheopenedherlidsagain.Hisbreathbeathotintoherface.
“Tellme,”hewhispered,atlast,“tellmeaboutit.”
Shelayperfectlymotionless,andhehadtoholdhisbreathtocatchherwords.“Ididnotwant—todoit,”shesaid;“Itried—Itriednottodoit.Ionlydidit—tosaveus.Itwasouronlychance.”
Again,foraspace,therewasnosoundbuthispanting.
Ona’seyesclosedandwhenshespokeagainshedidnotopenthem.
“Hetoldme—hewouldhavemeturnedoff.
Hetoldmehewould—wewouldallofusloseourplaces.
Wecouldnevergetanythingtodo—here—again.
He—hemeantit—hewouldhaveruinedus.”
Jurgis’armswereshakingsothathecouldscarcelyholdhimselfup,andlurchedforwardnowandthenashelistened.“When—whendidthisbegin?”hegasped.
“Attheveryfirst,”shesaid.Shespokeasifinatrance.
“Itwasall—itwastheirplot—MissHenderson’splot.Shehatedme.Andhe—hewantedme.
Heusedtospeaktome—outontheplatform.Thenhebeganto—tomakelovetome.Heofferedmemoney.Hebeggedme—hesaidhelovedme.Thenhethreatenedme.
Heknewallaboutus,heknewwewouldstarve.Heknewyourboss—heknewMarija’s.
Hewouldhoundustodeath,hesaid—thenhesaidifIwould—ifI—wewouldallofusbesureofwork—always.
Thenonedayhecaughtholdofme—hewouldnotletgo—he—he—”
“Wherewasthis?”
“Inthehallway—atnight—aftereveryonehadgone.Icouldnothelpit.Ithoughtofyou—ofthebaby—ofmotherandthechildren.Iwasafraidofhim—afraidtocryout.”
Amomentagoherfacehadbeenashengray,nowitwasscarlet.Shewasbeginningtobreathehardagain.Jurgismadenotasound.
“Thatwastwomonthsago.Thenhewantedmetocome—tothathouse.Hewantedmetostaythere.
Hesaidallofus—thatwewouldnothavetowork.Hemademecomethere—intheevenings.
Itoldyou—youthoughtIwasatthefactory.
Then—onenightitsnowed,andIcouldn’tgetback.Andlastnight—thecarswerestopped.
Itwassuchalittlething—toruinusall.Itriedtowalk,butIcouldn’t.Ididn’twantyoutoknow.
Itwouldhave—itwouldhavebeenallright.
Wecouldhavegoneon—justthesame—youneedneverhaveknownaboutit.
Hewasgettingtiredofme—hewouldhaveletmealonesoon.
Iamgoingtohaveababy—Iamgettingugly.
Hetoldmethat—twice,hetoldme,lastnight.Hekickedme—lastnight—too.
Andnowyouwillkillhim—you—youwillkillhim—andweshalldie.”
Allthisshehadsaidwithoutaquiver;shelaystillasdeath,notaneyelidmoving.AndJurgis,too,saidnotaword.
Heliftedhimselfbythebed,andstoodup.
Hedidnotstopforanotherglanceather,butwenttothedoorandopenedit.
HedidnotseeElzbieta,crouchingterrifiedinthecorner.
Hewentout,hatless,leavingthestreetdooropenbehindhim.
Theinstanthisfeetwereonthesidewalkhebrokeintoarun.
Heranlikeonepossessed,blindly,furiously,lookingneithertotherightnorleft.
HewasonAshlandAvenuebeforeexhaustioncompelledhimtoslowdown,andthen,noticingacar,hemadeadartforitanddrewhimselfaboard.
Hiseyeswerewildandhishairflying,andhewasbreathinghoarsely,likeawoundedbull;butthepeopleonthecardidnotnoticethisparticularly—perhapsitseemednaturaltothemthatamanwhosmelledasJurgissmelledshouldexhibitanaspecttocorrespond.
Theybegantogivewaybeforehimasusual.
Theconductortookhisnickelgingerly,withthetipsofhisfingers,andthenlefthimwiththeplatformtohimself.
Jurgisdidnotevennoticeit—histhoughtswerefaraway.
Withinhissoulitwaslikearoaringfurnace;hestoodwaiting,waiting,crouchingasifforaspring.
Hehadsomeofhisbreathbackwhenthecarcametotheentranceoftheyards,andsoheleapedoffandstartedagain,racingatfullspeed.
Peopleturnedandstaredathim,buthesawnoone—therewasthefactory,andheboundedthroughthedoorwayanddownthecorridor.
HeknewtheroomwhereOnaworked,andheknewConnor,thebossoftheloading-gangoutside.
Helookedforthemanashesprangintotheroom.
Thetruckmenwerehardatwork,loadingthefreshlypackedboxesandbarrelsuponthecars.
Jurgisshotoneswiftglanceupanddowntheplatform—themanwasnotonit.
Butthensuddenlyheheardavoiceinthecorridor,andstartedforitwithabound.Inaninstantmorehefrontedtheboss.
Hewasabig,red-facedIrishman,coarse-featured,andsmellingofliquor.
HesawJurgisashecrossedthethreshold,andturnedwhite.
Hehesitatedonesecond,asifmeaningtorun;andinthenexthisassailantwasuponhim.
Heputuphishandstoprotecthisface,butJurgis,lungingwithallthepowerofhisarmandbody,struckhimfairlybetweentheeyesandknockedhimbackward.
Thenextmomenthewasontopofhim,buryinghisfingersinhisthroat.
ToJurgisthisman’swholepresencereekedofthecrimehehadcommitted;thetouchofhisbodywasmadnesstohim—itseteverynerveofhimatremble,itarousedallthedemoninhissoul.
IthadworkeditswilluponOna,thisgreatbeast—andnowhehadit,hehadit!Itwashisturnnow!
Thingsswambloodbeforehim,andhescreamedaloudinhisfury,liftinghisvictimandsmashinghisheaduponthefloor.
Theplace,ofcourse,wasinanuproar;womenfaintingandshrieking,andmenrushingin.
Jurgiswassobentuponhistaskthatheknewnothingofthis,andscarcelyrealizedthatpeopleweretryingtointerferewithhim;itwasonlywhenhalfadozenmenhadseizedhimbythelegsandshouldersandwerepullingathim,thatheunderstoodthathewaslosinghisprey.
Inaflashhehadbentdownandsunkhisteethintotheman’scheek;andwhentheytorehimawayhewasdrippingwithblood,andlittleribbonsofskinwerehanginginhismouth.
Theygothimdownuponthefloor,clingingtohimbyhisarmsandlegs,andstilltheycouldhardlyholdhim.
Hefoughtlikeatiger,writhingandtwisting,halfflingingthemoff,andstartingtowardhisunconsciousenemy.
Butyetothersrushedin,untiltherewasalittlemountainoftwistedlimbsandbodies,heavingandtossing,andworkingitswayabouttheroom.
Intheend,bytheirsheerweight,theychokedthebreathoutofhim,andthentheycarriedhimtothecompanypolicestation,wherehelaystilluntiltheyhadsummonedapatrolwagontotakehimaway.
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